Today me and my four and a half companions treked up Sunny Mountain to the Valley outreach of Brynmawr. We arrived at the club house and then hiked it to the playing fields across the main road. A brisk wind making some brass monkeys a tad nervous.
On arriving at the gates and paying my dues we were some way above the game. I could see Caerleon on the attack (we were around ten minutes late) Jack Davies went very close over in the right-hand corner, but the ball was spun back left several other attempts to score were repelled but a penalty was awarded. Tap and go and eventual Westie (M) ghosted over. He missed the conversion but I was reliably informed by Biggles that that was the second try as Ben Snell had touched down earlier. So Caerleon were 0-12 up in around fifteen minutes. I think Porkey was captain today as Macey was on Huw Wilkinsons Stag along with Couchy. With the injury list still full and the unavailability of M'Lud Rostron there was a young team out there with little experience at this level, but they appeared to be doing a number on Brynmawr. Mawr pulled a penalty back but Caerleon went further ahead following a scrum win, looping run by Westie (decoy) and a blistering line break by Tom. Jack came off his wing at a lovely angle and touched down near the posts. 3-19 and it was looking good. From the kick off Pete Loder and Westie (Ll) made a major foray back into the opposition half but got pinged for holding on. From there Mawr had a period of sustained pressure. Dispite some stout defence Mawr eventually got a try wide out, not converted, so reduced the arrears to 8-19.
During that passage of play a Brynmawr player was badly hurt, ambulances were called and there was a long stoppage. The home side kept busy with the ball but the Caerleon lads seemed a little disjointed, wandering and chatting. Someone eventually told them to go back into the changing rooms (it was bitter mind). However, as they reached the doors the lad got stretcherd off and they were summoned back. Not sure if the lads switched back on because what followed was carnage. Some poor play in their own 22, lost possession and Mawr were under the sticks for their second. 15-19. Minutes later they drove a maul fully fifteen metres to score their third (unconcerned) to gain the lead 20-19.With the Caerleon lads still struggling to get going again, Mawr struck from distance to score their bonus point try and go into half time 25 -19 up and looking the better side. What a topsey turvey half, a game of two contrasting quarters so far. What was the second two quarters going to bring?
It started well for Caerleon, after only three minutes Pat charged down a clearance from the back of a maul and followed up to touch down to score Caerleons bonus point try. Not converted and it was now 25-24 and both teams had a BP.
An exciting moment from the kick off when Curtis caught a high ball, practically on his own goal line, levelled a would be tackler and stormed out of defence, Porkey in support took a pass and put in a lovely waited kick for Tom to chase down, but the defender just got back and suspiciously touched down (May have took it over). Caerleon appeared to be getting back to the playing style of first fifteen minutes. From an attacking line out, great ball off the top from Conner a loop around by Morgan but Ben dummied and sliced through the defence to go untouched under the sticks. 25-31 and Caerleon May have pulled the game out of the fire. Ten minutes later, however, and Mawr were attacking again. They turned down a penalty under the sticks for a scrum, three attempts to make a legal play and the home side drove it over to regain the lead 32-31. Caerleon were starting to make mistakes again as they chased the game, a foray into the Mawr half with bulldozing runs from Dai Rossiter, Porkey and Westie (Ll) did yield a penalty that was coolly drilled over by MW. Caerleon were in front again with ten minutes remaining. 32-34.
Another moment of madness inside the 22 and Caerleon turned the ball over, a try was all but scored but Curtis pulled of an outstanding try saving tackle and , incredibly, won a penalty. Mr Puddy commentated "That could have just won us the match". Morgan kicked for touch, but more controversy as the ball may,or may not, have been knocked back in play illegally. Anyway, the ball was run back, and what won them the game is that they bloody scored another try, ran the clock down (three minutes) and snatched it 37-34.
Oh fy Duw!!! I suppose it was an exciting game due to the scoring of tries and the changing of the lead several times, but ultimately, for me, frustrating. To see the lads running rings around the opposition one minute then looking like they've not played together, ever! The next. The long stoppage didn't help, maybe the missing "old heads" could have steadied the ship when they had the lead. Who knows? There was a very young side out there on Saturday.
Anyway, I know they were hurting after the game, but they all gave 100% I'm sure, Two bonus points were better than none, so all was not lost.
I still love you. X
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